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Obituaries 10-13-2011

Robert F. “Boston Bob” Alix of Ridgway, PA, formerly of Boston’s West End, died suddenly on Oct. 3.

A U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War, he was a longtime employee of Howes Leather Co.

He was the beloved husband of the late Mary Theresa (Keane) of Connemara, Ireland; loving father of Susie Alix-Howard and her husband, Tommy Howard of Charlestown; devoted brother of Paul O’Sullivan and his wife, Josephine of Millis; dear friend of Margaret Joyce Diamond of Boston and the Fogarty Family.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted the Frank H. Carr Funeral Home, Charlestown. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan. In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations in Bob’s name to the National Multiple Sclerlosis Society, 101-A First Ave., Suite 6, Waltham MA 02451. For guest book and obituary visit www.carrfuneral.com.

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James Gorman

Boston Police Department Retiree and Decorated Veteran

James F. Gorman died in West Roxbury on Oct. 6.

A Boston Police Department Retiree, he was a member of Somerville American Legion Post 19, the D.A.V. and V.F.W and a decorated US Army veteran of World War II.

He was the beloved husband of 65 years of Virginia M. (Hartling); devoted father of Patricia and her husband, Al Fiorini of Plainville, Judith and her late husband, Peter Wendt of Canton and Linda and her husband, Paul Struzik of Canton; loving Papa of Sarah and her husband, Denis Collins, Katherine and her husband, Jason Orlowski, Jennifer and her husband, Matt Sanders, Michael, Patrick and Jamesbrendan Wendt; great grandfather of Nora and Annie Collins.

Funeral arrangements were by the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, West Roxbury. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA. 02472. For guestbook www.gormleyfuneral.com.

Horizon Funeral Home of Fort Myers in charge of arrangements. Services will be held in Florida at a later date.

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Jean Hastings Yres

World Traveler, Scuba Diver and Devoted Red Sox Fan

Jean Hastings Yres, long time resident of Charlestown, world traveler, scuba diver, and devoted Red Sox fan, died peacefully October 2 after a half-year struggle with cancer. She was 88 years old.

She was born in Illinois in 1923, daughter of the late Ruth Beebe and Rolland Thomas Rankin Hastings. She grew up in Highland Park, but later moved to California with her family as a teenager, and finished high school in Los Gatos. She attended Mills College from 1940 to 1943 and married Thomas Russell Ayres, of Wallingford, Connecticut in 1944. The newlyweds moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts so that Tom could attend law school, and later moved to Wellesley Hills to raise a family, which included two sons, Tom Jr. and John.

Her husband was a Vice President of the Old Colony Trust Company in Boston. Besides raising her children, Jeannie was active in the local community, an amateur 16mm cinematographer and studied Italian, among other avocations.

The couple were seasoned travelers who took frequent trips to Europe, the Bahamas, and pre-Castro Cuba. After her husband’s untimely death in 1966, she moved to Boston’s waterfront area in the North End, then in the earliest stages of redevelopment, and a few years later to a refurbished historical brownstone in Charlestown.

She worked for more than three decades as an office manager at Finegold Alexander & Associates, one of Boston’s leading architectural firms focusing on historical restoration and adaptive use. She continued to travel extensively, including a safari in Africa with her dear friend, Roz Oakes, and especially after age 64 when she took up scuba diving. Her pursuit of dive adventures took her (and occasionally her son, John, also an avid diver) to the far corners of the world. Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia were favorite destinations. She also organized numerous Christmas trips to Mexico and Hawaii for her family and grandchildren.

Jeanie will be remembered for her positivity (happy, happy, happy!), generosity, bright colors, and above all, love of family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and brother, Rollie Hastings, and is survived by her sister, Lydia Stevens, sons, Tom Jr. and John, and grandchildren, Mallory and Nathaniel. A memorial scholarship fund has been set up: the Thomas R. and Jean H. Ayres Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Choate Rosemary Hall Development Office, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT. A celebration of life for Jeanie is planned: contact Tom Jr. or John for details.

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John Patrick Kane

Of West Barnstable, formerly of Charlestown

John Patrick Kane of West Barnstable, formerly of Charlestown and Hobe Sound, Florida, died Oct. 3 with his loving family by his side. He was 85 years old.

A former City of Boston Water Department employee, he was a US Navy veteran of World War II.

He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Connolly) Kane; devoted father of Maureen (Kane) Hartwell and her husband, Stephen of Boxborough, Jacqueline Kane Lockamon and her husband, John of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and Stephen Kane and his wife, Holly (Barber) of West Barnstable; beloved brother of Thomas Kane of Quincy; loving grandfather of Stephen Hartwell and his wife, Heather of Plymouth, Brendan Hartwell of Cambridge, J. Christopher Lockamon of Denver, Colorado and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Samantha, Aidan and Annabelle Kane of West Barnstable and one great granddaughter, Madison Hartwell of Plymouth.

Private burial will be in MA National Cemetery, Bourne. A Memorial service will be held at a later date.

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Lia M. Raptis

Formerly of Charlestown

Lia M. Raptis of Nashua, N.H. formerly of Charlestown, died on Friday, Oct. 7 at The Elms Nursing Home in Milford, N.H. after an extended illness. She was 71 years old.

She grew up in Nashua and attended schools there. She left Nashua in 1960 to find work in Boston. She became a cosmetician at Gilchrist’s Department Store in Boston. She later became a waitress at Dini’s Restaurant on Tremont Street in Boston and served there for 19 years. She then worked a number of years for Plymouth Rock Insurance Company. She is the beloved daughter of the late Anna (Padios) and George K. Raptis. Devoted sister of Tina Raptis of Smyrna, Georgia and the late Sandra Raptis. She is the loving aunt of Jenna Raptis.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service on Friday, Oct.14, at 11 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashua, N.H. Arrangements by Carr Funeral Home of Charlestown. To send a condolence, please visit www.carrfuneral.com.